Covid 19: Tentacles of First-Neuro hospital spreads to Bhatkal

Bhatkal: The First-Neuro hospital located at Mangaluru’s Padil is now being hinted as the source of infection for the coronavirus cases reported in Bhatkal.

As many as 12 persons, including a 5-month-old baby tested positive for coronavirus on Friday May 8. The spike in cases in the district, which was inching towards being coronavirus free came three days after a 18-year-old girl tested positive for the infection.

The girl had no travel history whatsoever, but three members of her family (who tested Covid positive today) are said to have visited the First Neuro hospital on April 20 for treatment of the toddler. The girl it is suspected contracted the infection through them.

Following this the district administration had sent throat swab samples of over 100 persons for testing, of which 12 have tested positive. This includes six people of her family and six other persons residing in the nearby locality.

Though district administration has sealed areas surrounding houses of the infected persons, Dinakar K Shetty, MLA of Kumata-Honnavar legislative constituency has urged DC Dr K Harish Kumar to seal down entire Bhatkal taluk as well as its borders with Honnavara.